Automatic liquid feeder



Jan. 3, 1956 L. FETTKETHER ET AL AUTOMATIC LIQUID FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July so, 1964 Lou/Is FeH/re/her Donald L. Fellkefher INVENTORS Jan. 3, 1956 FETTKETHER E AL 2,729,365

AUTOMATIC LIQUID FEEDER Filed July 30, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 F/g.4 I a0 I I/l/ I l W mm,

MINI

United States Patent O AUTOMATIC LIQUID FEEDER Louis Fettkether and Donald L. Fettkether, Farley, Iowa Application July 30, 1954, Serial No. 446,848

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-605) This invention relates in general to liquid dispensers, and more specifically to an automatic liquid feeder.

There are many types of devices into which it is necessary that certain types of liquids be fed at a constant rate. An example of such devices is a boiler which must have mixed with the water thereof a boiler compound to prevent excess rusting and scale formation. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved automatic liquid feeder which is so constructed whereby the amount of liquid fed thereby is constant.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic liquid feeder of the water wheel type, the liquid feeder including a plurality of buckets, the buckets being selectively changeable in number and position so as to accomplish the desired feeding.

A further object of this invention to to provide an improved bucket for water wheel type liquid feeders, the bucket being so constructed whereby a desired amount of liquid is picked up irrespective of the fact that the level of the liquid in the liquid supply container is abnormally low.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the automatic liquid feeder which is the subject of this invention and shows the general outline thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows the manner in which a wheel of the liquid feeder is mounted for rotary movement, also being shown is the relationship of buckets being carried by the wheel with respect to a tray for receiving liquid therefrom;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 2 and shows further the details of the means for picking up and delivering liquid from the interior of the liquid supply tank;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 3 and shows the relationship of a bucket with respect to the tray when the bucket is in a liquid dumping position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the tray removed from the liquid supply tank; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the buckets.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the automatic liquid feeder which is the subject of this invention includes a housing or liquid supply tank which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The liquid supply tank 10 includes a front ice wall 12, a back wall 14, a bottom wall 16, a top wall 18 and end walls 20 and 22. If desired, the back Wall 14 may be removable in order to facilitate the mounting of the various parts within the liquid supply tank 10.

Carried by the back wall 14, as is best illustrated in Figure 2, is an angle support bracket 24 on which there is mounted a power source in the form of an electric motor 26. The electric motor 26 has an armature shaft 28 which is connected to a reduction gear unit 30 also mounted on the support 24. The reduction gear unit 30 has a drive shaft 32 which extends through the rear wall 14. Removably secured tothe drive shaft 32 within the interior of the liquid supply tank 10 is a wheel 34. The wheel 34 is preferably formed of sheet material and is rotatable with the drive shaft 32.

Carried by the wheel 34 in spaced relation is a plurality of buckets which are referred to in general by the reference numeral 36. Each bucket 36 includes a generally tubular body portion 38 which has the rear end thereof closed by a rear wall 40. The body portion 38 has an upper forward portion thereof removed to form an upwardly and rearwardly sloping entrance opening 42. The extreme forward end of the bucket 36 is provided with an upwardly projecting lip 44 whose purpose will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

' Secured to the body portion 38 of each of the buckets 36 and extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof is a fastener 46. As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the wheel 34 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 48 disposed adjacent the periphery thereof. The apertures 48 have selectively received therethrough the fasteners 46 so as to permit the selective spacing of the buckets 36. The provision of the plurality of apertures 48 also permits the variance of the number of buckets utilized, whereby the amount of liquid to be fed may be varied as desired.

As is best illustrated in Figure 2, the fastener 46 is provided with suitable nuts 50 threadedly engaged thereon, the nuts 50 being disposed on opposite sides of the wheel 34. Through the use of the nuts 50, the angular relationship of the buckets 36 may be varied as desired so that the amount of liquid picked up by each bucket 36 may be varied.

Carried by the front wall 12 on the inner side thereof above the center of the liquid supply tank 10 is a tray which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 52. The tray 52 includes a narrow trough body portion 54 which has one end thereof closed by an end wall 56. As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the body portion 54 slopes downwardly towards the end wall 56 so that liquid dumped therein from the buckets 36 will flow towards the end wall 56. The part of the body portion 54 remote from the end wall 56 has secured to one edge thereof a mounting flange 58. The mounting flange 58 extends vertically from the body portion 52 and is secured to the front wall 12 by suitable fasteners 60.

Secured to the underside of the body portion 54 adjacent the end Wall 56 is a fluid line 64. The fluid supply line 64 extends through the end wall 20 and has the lower end thereof disposed in a glass or other transparent tube 66 which is carried by a fitting 68 secured to the other surface of the end wall 20. The fitting 63 has secured to the lower end thereof a tube 70 which will be communicated with the boiler or other place in which the liquid carried by the liquid supply tank 10 is intended to be emptied.

Communicating with the interior of the liquid supply tank 10 through a fitting 72 secured to the bottom wall 16 thereof and a U-shaped tube 74 connected to the fitting 72 is a sight glass 76. The sight glass 76 is secured adjacent the end wall 22 by suitable clamps 78 carried by the end wall 72. Through the use of the sight glass 76, the amount of liquid 80 disposed within the liquid supply tank it may be determined.

Although it has not been specifically illustrated, it is to be understood that the liquid supply tank is to be provided with a fitting through which the supply of the liquid 80 may be replenished as necessary.

In the operation of the automatic liquid feeder, which is the subject of this invention, the wheel 34 is rotated with the result that the buckets 36 alternatingly move through the liquid 80 and then up above the tray 52 into which the liquid picked up by the buckets 36 is dumped. It is readily apparent that by varying the angular. relationship of the buckets 36 with respect to the wheel 34, the amount of liquid picked up in each revolution of the bucket 36 may be varied as desired. Further, by providing the front lip 44 on each bucket 36, as the bucket 36 moves downwardly at an angle through the liquid 30, at least a minimum of liquid is picked up into the bucket 36 and is retained therein as the angular relationship of the bucket 36 with respect to the horizontal changes, and the bucket 36 begins to move vertically. in this manner, the constant supplying of a liquid, such as the liquid 86, to the tray 52 is assured.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and eqivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An automatic liquid feeder comprising a liquid supply tank, a vertical wheel rotatably mounted within said liquid supply tank, drive means for rotating said wheel, at least one bucket carried by said wheel for picking up liquid from within said liquid supply tank, a tray for receiving liquid from said bucket, said bucket being tubular with a rear closed end and having a longitudinally CX- tending front end opening, an upturned lip at the front end of said bucket to ensure proper picking up of liquid from a low liquid supply.

2. An automatic liquid feeder comprising a liquid supply tank, a vertical wheel rotatably mounted within said liquid supply tank, drive means for rotating said wheel, at least one bucket carried by said wheel for picking up liquid from within said liquid supply tank, a tray for receiving liquid from said bucket, said bucket being adjustably secured to said wheel for selective angular disposition to vary the amount of liquid entering said bucket, said bucket being tubular and having an open front portion, an upturned lip at the forward end of said bucket to en sure proper picking up of liquid from a low liquid supply, said tray comprising a horizontal trough body having one end closed and its other end open and slanting toward its closed end, and a fluid line extending from the bottom and closed end of the trough body out of said tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 363,849 Richardson May X3, 1887 699,699 Newberry May 13, 808,588 Tracy Dec. 26, 1906 874,037 Schreiber Dec. 17, 1907 

